Paperback

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Freehand examines around 200 sketches and illustrations by young contemporary artists, in each case highlighting and explaining the drawing techniques, qualities, and effects with extended captions, insightful tips, and practical advice. Four main categories unify the book: Principles, Drawing Media, Types of Drawing, and Subjects. Each sketch clearly indicates which principle is being exemplified, the media used, the subject of the drawing, and the type of drawing. A detailed category index at the front of the book lists each page where similar examples may be found, enabling the reader to easily identify and cross reference subjects that have been drawn in similar styles. Advice covers composition, shading, subjects, silhouettes, working with pencils, pen and ink, and charcoal. This helps the reader understand the way in which similar subjects and styles are executed by different artists, and also inspires them to use the tips in the book to build on their own unique talent. If you're going to learn to draw, what's the point of only drawing one way? Standing apart from the host of how-to drawing books, Freehand accesses practical information via the images u a unique approach that focuses on the way subjects can be treated through different drawing styles, rather than elaborate techniques to master one single style. This gives the reader a much wider skill set allowing them to capture or create the essence of any image in more than one way.

About the Author

Helen Birch is a journalist and prolific artist based in the UK. She is also author of the highly popular blog DrawDrawDraw reaching more than half a million readers. A prolific Pinner, Helen's boards have 439,794 followers and evidences her impeccable and eclectic taste and love of drawing. In addition, Helen teaches BA courses in Art and Design, Fine Art, and Illustration at Bradford College, UK.